Defining Terms
Theories
Theories are ones’ thoughts, ideas, and mental visions of how something should work and why it will or will not work when put into a reality phase. Theories can be applied by means of mechanical, methodological and physical subject matters. In my opinion it is the starting point or provides direction when attempting to take such thoughts, ideas and visions and turning them into something materialistic and real. Theories lay the foundation for where one needs to begin researching the how, what and why of what will work, as pertains to one’s own projected out- come of their subject. As in relation to the criminal justice aspect, theories could be applied to most any situation where law enforcement is attempting to find
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From a criminal justice standpoint I would use the example of the bad cop/good cop concept as a tool used in retrieving information from a suspect during an interrogation process. A set of parents may use this same concept in order to gain information from a child who has done something wrong.
Hypothesis
To define the term hypothesis I would say that it is the end result of a theory. By this, I mean that a hypothesis entails all that a theory does and is supported by proven tested and statistical research. An example as in relation to criminal justice would be that guns do not kill people; people kill people.
Paradigm
A paradigm provides a clear picture of something, or gives a model of what something should be or be perceived as. Paradigms are based on framework and structure as a result from research methodology. In the criminal justice aspect a paradigm could be in the form of a means of evaluating certain criminal situations and in the process coming up with an alternate or more beneficial method. Our text material states that “Edwin Sutherland’s concept of white-collar crime serves as an example of a paradigm revolution in criminology, a radical reorientation in theoretical views of the nature of criminality” (Hagan,